Fratton Park, the long-term home of Portsmouth
Fratton Park, the long-term home of Portsmouth
Transfers

Toby Steward wished well as Portsmouth keeper heads for new loan after signing contract

Dan Godfrey
Dan Godfrey

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

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Portsmouth have loaned out young goalkeeper Toby Steward for a second time, as he spends the 2024-25 season with Tonbridge Angels.

As confirmed on the club's official X page [16 July], the teenage stopper will spend the entire campaign with the National League South side.

Steward spent a successful loan stint last season with Gosport Borough one division below, who Pompey visit to kick-off pre-season on Tuesday night.

Portsmouth send Steward back on loan

The loan deal between Portsmouth and Kent outfit Tonbridge should prove useful for Steward, who is still only 19 but now with a full campaign of men's football behind him.

He was tied down to a new two-year contract this summer with John Mousinho and his staff evidently seeing a future at Fratton Park, but this season comes too early for Championship action with Will Norris and Jordan Archer in the squad, alongside hopefully a new goalkeeper very soon.

Pompey have had fair criticism levelled their way in recent times for not bridging the gap between scholarship age and first-team football, with no Under-21 team currently in place for young professionals.

This has resulted in loan deals being arranged such as this one, or players being released at 18 following the completion of their scholarships; however, for Steward and for Pompey, this deal makes a lot of sense regardless.

The club are also set to send Reuben Swann out on loan after pre-season, having recently signed the 18-year-old midfielder to his first professional deal from non-league AFC Sudbury.

In other Portsmouth news, there could be new contracts for a key forward duo.

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